The latest on California politics and government

September 19, 2013

Gov. Jerry Brown made his mode of transportation a point of interest when, as governor before, he sold his predecessor's limousine and rode around Sacramento in a blue Plymouth sedan.

When he returned to office in 2011, his car of choice was a 2008 Pontiac G8.

In recent months, however, the Democratic governor has appeared less and less frequently in the Pontiac and more often in a more traditional choice, a 2008 black Chevrolet Suburban.

Before climbing into the SUV after an event in Oakland on Monday, Brown lamented the amount of work his old G8 required, saying, "There's a reason why Pontiac went out of business."

Brown's office confirmed today that the Pontiac has been retired. It had racked up more than 100,000 miles and "was at the end of its serviceable life," Brown spokesman Evan Westrup said.

"There were a number of persistent service issues with the vehicle, and it got to a point where it was necessary to no longer use it," he said.

Westrup said the Suburban was purchased in 2008 and used as part of then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's detail.

Westrup said it is only being used "as a temporary vehicle while a permanent replacement for the Pontiac is considered."

Brown suggested Monday he has an idea what he might like. Among a handful of electric vehicles at an event in San Francisco that day was a red Smart car.

Brown admired the convertible and said, "This looks like a good gubernatorial limousine."

PHOTO: Gov. Jerry Brown speaks to reporters in front of his state-issued SUV in Oakland on Sept. 16, 2013 (top), after looking at electric cars at an event in San Francisco earlier in the day. The Sacramento Bee/David Siders